The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-06-02
MISSION RIDGE.
The Story of the Charge Told by an
Enlisted Man.
BY II. ALLsPAUGH, co II, 3lsT OHIO, ROCK
RAPIDS, IOWA.

BY H. ALIsPAUGH, co H, 3lsT OHIO, nocK
RAPIDS, IOWA.
II was about all that hrst-class patriotism
wo3ld bear up uuder-that shut-in at Chatta-
nooga-and we of the old Army Of the Cumbcr-
land would very likely have relisbed an order
30 roll blankets and "dog-tents" and start out
ON longer campaign than Moses enjoyed in
the early days Of campaigning, had we been as
. snrod full rati0ns on the way. So when Gen.
Grant had Joined rs with his Nickshurg heroes,
we were ready at moments notice to do our
part In a campaign which we intended should
pay with compound interest for the rough
handling Braggs men had given us In the
early Autumn.
We were probably a little prciudced against
the popular rebel leader whose headquarters
had stood cut in most provoking prominence
/ on Mission Ridge, while we had picketed and
starved for his amusement through October
and November; and had we Of the ranks been
in charge Of some Of the long-range guns
on our lines, probably the gray haired veteran
Of Buena Vista would have found il conven-
lent 10 remove his traps TO the eastern slope of
the ridge to secure a sound sleep.
But every dog has his day saws the old
proyerb, and now our time had arrived. We
checriully gathered up our allowance OF hall
rations, buckled on our
DOUBLE ALLOWANCE OF AMsIUEITIoS,
and moved cut on the 23d Of November, 1863,
Mt ? p. NJ, under orders Of the Commanding
General. IN a kind of review before the enc
my, while Sherman on the left and Hooker on
the right should enact their part in the pro-
gram. We did our part Of the work by adj
vancing our lines and occupying the rebel out
posts on the 23d, and on the evening OF the
oath we of the center, under Thomas, for
once in our career, Were allowed 10 act as
spectators while some other unfortunStes did
the fighting.
Hooker's work on Lookout during the after
noon and evening of Nov. % rs witnessed by
US OF the center was intensely interesting, and
when, later in the evening, the light of day
had died out and a cloud-like mist had settled
down over the scene, we anXioasly watched the
line Of flashes as il came to our sight through
the riffs in the clouds that enveloped The sum-
NIT, and began 10 grow restless when we real
Zed that Hooker had secured Lookout and
sherman was pressing the enemy on the left,
as the deep boom OF his guns had indicated for
day or two.
Was the old Army Of the Cumberland TO re-
main spectator, and inactive, while the heroes
OF Yicksburg aud Charlottesville gained a
victory over our old enemy? The answer came
in an order TO advance at given signal on the
afternoon of the 25th, and ere the echoes Of the
signal guns had died away we had seized our
arms
WITH FIRBER GRIP,
and found ourselves In line moving with re-
view-lke precision across the plain in front of
Mission Ridge which had so long irowned de-
iiance upon u.s. and now seemed turning into
series OF active volcanoes.
Gems. Grant and Thomas have both folded
their tents and passed over the silent river"
but history ought to know, and let it be re-
corded for all future time whether the Army
of the Cumberland had orders 10 halt at the
foot OF the slope and lie there until an order 10
advance found them; or was il the order 10
reach that point then take advantage Of cir
cumstances2 Yes, history ought to know, and
the controversy ought to be settled while there
arc survivors who know. The truth cannot
now iujure our heroic leaders, detract from
/ their hard learned fame or rob them Of single
! victor's wreath.
We of the rank and file heard the command,
Forward, men-Double-Quick, and the plain
1 lay before us with Mission Ridge in the back
1 ground and our old enemy pouring shot and
shell into our ranks as we advanced. That
condition Of things we shall venture in justifi-
cation Of our disobedience-if we dsObeyed an
! order-and when IL became a question of iudg-
! meHt as 10 the course we ought TO pursue we
could but cease TO be the victims of Bragg's
1 men, huddled rs we were in those shallow rifle
! pits, and move upward on the perious mission
1 Of assaultng the rebel stronghold at the top
! frowning with cannon aud bristling with bayo-
/ nets
Before the late war soldier in the ranks
was a portion Of great machine and was not
supposed 10 think or use human instinct; on
/ the contrary, 30 obey orders and look out for
4 himself as a secondary matter was all that was
required OF the common soldier. Now this was
al well enough in its day and time, bat when
an army leaves to history the record OF having
gained an important victory
BY ITS DIsoBEDIENCE,
some kind Of an explanation is necessary, and
let this suffice the old Army Of the Cumber-
land thought. Every man in the ranks there
knew that our position at the foot Of the slope
was untenable, and that we must make a retro
grade movement across the plain or continue
our advance until we had secured the summit,
and when few moments later, we saw brave
cOlOT-bearcr half way up the slope Haunting
the old emblem or freedom in the very faces OF
the enemy, we bounded out of the rile-pits
and without any kind Of West Point alignment
moved steadily upward. In other words, il
was left 10 the men who carried the muskct ia
find way across the rebel works the best they
could, and IL took some close hand-to-hand
work at some points on the line TO convince
the rebel occupants that we had the betteI
right there.
Ibe rebel rlRhb had been strengthened by
weakening his center, aud the result was we ol
the left division lBaiId's) found no boys play
before Us. The writer does not pretend 10 give
a description Of the battle except so far as the
front limited 10 the view Of comparatively few
would allow, but doubts not his experience wa,
similar TO that of thousands who took part in
this enlisted mems battle.
Yes, enlisted mems BATTLE" and we had
evidence that il was beginning 10 take thai
turn before we had reached the rile-pits at th,
foot Of the ridge, for q prominent regimenta
commander had started into the line of assault
with his men in double column at half dis
tanee," and was riding in front OF the center
division as rigid and fearless as ir 0n review
apparently obliyious Of the shot and shell tha
whistled through or over his compact regiment
that, according TO common sense, should have
been
IE LINE OF BATTLE
Now, il was very unmiitary for a younJ
Sergeant la the leading division 90 notice tha
regiment ia close order offered better targe
for the rebel gunners than other parts Of IA,
line afforded, aud rush out in front far enougl
20 make the Colonel hear. and yell, Colonel
why in HI don't you depioy column" bu
!, history demands that we toll the truth, thougl
il may be somewhat humiiiating 10 the mill
q .1... 81. fl.F-